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...And Justice for All? The Effect of Name Cues to Race on
Judicial DecisionsDina Shaneberger, Nicole Williamson, and Sheila Brownlow,
Catawba College

ABSTRACT: This study
examined the impact of a subtle cue to race–a person’s name–on attributions of
culpability and subsequent sentencing in a fictitious armed robbery case. White
participants read a police report containing basic information about a crime
that varied only according to the name of the perpetrator on the report. In one
condition, the woman suspect’s name was clearly Black, in another White, and in
a third condition no name information appeared. We predicted that a perpetrator
with a Black name would be judged more harshly and given a longer jail sentence
than a perpetrator with a White name. Effects of both name race and participant
sex emerged, although the main hypothesis was not supported. Perpetrators with
Black names were seen as more likely to have committed similar crimes in the
past. Women perceived outside influences to be more contributory to the
suspect’s actions when compared to men, whereas men assigned longer jail
sentences to all suspects. The results are discussed within a theoretical
framework suggesting that racism is most likely to be seen when only subtle or
ambiguous cues are present, but will not be manifested when cues for socially
acceptable behavior are evident.

The Demographics of Cheating in College StudentsMelanie Butler, Tiffani Ridley, and Mary Allen, California State
University, Bakersfield

ABSTRACT: Cheating in
college has become a serious problem. Thirteen cheating behaviors were examined
among 81 state university and 29 community college students with an average age
of 23.38 years (SD = 5.92). Based on
the literature, we hypothesized that men find students with low grade point
averages cheat more often. In addition, we examined the effects of ethnicity,
campus type (community college vs. university), student status (full- vs.
part-time), and age on types and rates of cheating behaviors. Students were
asked to report the frequency of each behavior in an academic year. Most
students (78%) reported cheating of at least one type. Grade point average and
age were significantly negatively related to reported cheating; sex, ethnicity,
campus type, and student status were not. Although more common among younger
and academically weaker students, cheating occurs across ethnic groups,
campuses, and types of students. Cheating may be caused by a number of
different factors. Steps should be taken to create an environment in which
cheating is less likely to occur.

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places? Sex and Race
Differences in Mate Selection Through the Personal AdsConnie C. Lyerly, Stephanie M. Smith, and Sheila Brownlow,
Catawba College

ABSTRACT: To examine
race and sex differences in mating preferences, we conducted a content analysis
of a sample of 1,003 personal advertisements, examining what people offer and
seek in a dating partner. The results confirmed both sociobiological theory and
the matching hypothesis, indicating that women offered attractiveness and
information about their appearance and sought older men. Men looked for young,
healthy, attractive women. Women also articulated more personal qualities that
they desired in a mate and specified that they wanted a similar partner. Ad
placers who were Black were less particular about the age and hobbies of their
desired mate, although Black women were most likely to provide a list of what
they did not want in a partner. Black women were least likely to seek an
attractive partner, stipulating instead that they sought a partner with
financial and career status. By contrast, Black men offered their appearance to
potential mates rather than their career and financial status.

Personality and Eyewitness SuggestibilityMichael A. Proudfoot and Kerri L. Pickel, Ball State University

ABSTRACT: Previous
research has demonstrated a phenomenon known as the misinformation effect:
After viewing an event, witnesses given misleading information are more likely
than controls to report details consistent with that information. In Study 1,
witnesses watched a video depicting a car chase and then completed a
questionnaire containing either misleading or accurate information. Later we
tested their memory for the video. Among nonmisled witnesses, high scores on
self-deception and impression management measures correlated positively with
accuracy. No correlation was found among misled witnesses. With additional
evidence from Study 2, we argue that the results support the memory impairment
explanation for the misinformation effect and do not support any of the other 3
explanations researchers have proposed.

Anxiety and Self-Confidence in Relation to Individual and Team
Sports: A ReevaluationEric Thomas and Jason P. Kring, Emporia State College

ABSTRACT:
The present study replicated 2 previous studies to determine if athletes
who compete solo differ from those who compete as part of a team with regard to
anxiety and self-confidence. Athletes, 49 men and 35 women, were divided by
sport context and asked to complete the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory
(CSAI-2). The analyses showed individual sport athletes exhibit significantly
higher levels of cognitive and somatic anxiety and lower levels of
self-confidence than team sport athletes who report less cognitive and somatic
anxiety and more self-confidence. These findings were consistent with the
conclusions of previous studies and support that sport context infiuences
athletes’ precompetitive cognitions (Martens, Vealey, & Burton, 1990; Wong,
Lox, & Clark, 1993).

Needs Assessment and Program EvaluationKatherine Glaser and George W. Glaser, Humboldt State University

ABSTRACT: Students lack
knowledge of the preparation required for graduate admissions. The need for and
the impact of a training program in the graduate admissions process were
investigated. The pilot training program included needs assessment, training,
and program evaluation elements. A convenience sample of 128 female and 76 male
psychology students participated in the study. Materials consisted of 2
questionnaires and a training module that included a training handbook. The
program evaluation employed a nonequivalent control group design. Results
suggest training on the graduate admissions process is needed and has an impact
on students. With an alpha level of .05, the mean "assessed impact"
score and the mean "perceived impact" score for the training group
significantly exceeded those scores for the comparison group.

The Effect of Sex Role Orientation and Level of Involvement on
Mate SelectionMichael Scherder, Susan Seiter, and Larry Boehm, Thomas More
College

ABSTRACT: This study
examined the influence of sex, sex role orientation, and type of relationship
on preferred mate characteristics. Participants completed a Bem Sex Role Inventory
(Bem, 1974) and then rated 28 different characteristics for importance in
various opposite-sex relationships including marriage, steady date, single
date, one-night stand, and platonic friend. We found the type of relationship
had significant effects on preferred mate characteristics whereas sex and sex
role orientation had little effect on desirable mate characteristics.

The Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research educates, supports, and promotes professional development, and disseminates psychological science. Only original, empirical manuscripts that make a contribution to psychological knowledge are published. Authors are Psi Chi members at the undergraduate, graduate, and faculty level.